I am watching a Fons/Porter program right now and it happens to be on Preprinted panels. She says that the panels ahve been around since the civil war era. They ladies would just add their own embellishments. So I am not sure why you daughter would have said what she did but now you have information as to the history on preprinted panels. The one she is working on is from the international quilt show. Very cool I have to say!

I have used panels in quilts too and as far as I am concerned they are still real quilts. Never mind what she says I am sure he will love it! Mater is my grandsons and my favorite character fromt he movie too! My 2 yr old DGS's favorite quilt is one I made with a panel of Thomas the Train that I made for his 4 yr old brother when he was a baby.

he will LOVE IT!!! and shame on his mom!!!
kids quilts should be ...kids quilts, quilts they love and can take everywhere ... what 'she' considers a 'real-quilt' is probably one she would stick in a box under the bed anyhow. give him the quilt happily, he will know the love and care. and there is nothing at all wrong with using panals in quilts!!!

Its what your grandson thinks that counts! It'll probably be his favorite!

It doesn't matter what the mother says or thinks, the quilt is for your grandson, not her and he will love it. Regardless, if a panel was used or not, it's the thought that counts, and it's still a quilt, so don't allow her "thoughts" to hurt your feelings.

I'll bet MOM doesnt know what a panel is or what a real quilt is for that matter. Forget her blunder and imagine the big smile on your DGS's face when he sees his Mater Quilt

Some people speak before thinking. I am sure your grandson will love it and she will too when she sees it.

I guess it takes all kinds of people. So sorry that your feelings were hurt. The quilt you made was real, and made with love, so don't worry about it.

sometimes our children don't think before they speak. just ignore the comment and enjoy giving the "quilt" to the one who will appreciate it. if you have the kind of relationship with your daughter that you can talk this out it would be worth the effort to clear the air. let her know how hurtful that was to you and explain that it is a 'real' quilt. if not, then just let it go. you do not need this grief in your life. just move on.

Agreed

I would have asked , very nicely, "what do you mean?" She may have been thinking of something else entirely or does not understand what it is you are making. Or not.

As I was told by my grandmother, a quilt has 3 layers; top, batting, and back. Nowhere have I ever read that a quilt could not use a panel. It was made with a grandmothers love. That is the thing to remember. Proudly give it to him and watch his eyes shine and that big broad smile grow on his face. And if you feel it necessary, maybe you should print the definition of the word quilt from Dictionary.com = –noun
1. a coverlet for a bed, made of two layers of fabric with some soft substance, as wool or down, between them and stitched in patterns or tufted through all thicknesses in order to prevent the filling from shifting.
2. anything quilted or resembling a quilt.
3. a bedspread or counterpane, esp. a thick one.
–verb (used with object)
5. to stitch together (two pieces of cloth and a soft interlining), usually in an ornamental pattern.

Try asking her what she meant. Maybe she is hinting for you to make a more adult, pieced one for him to cherish when he gets older and can use/display on his bed.
Personally, I must be the only one here and I don't mean to offend anyone, but I appreciate a pieced quilt much more than a panel. I know a lot more work goes into most all pieced than the panel although there are exceptions. I do feel panel quilts are good for children. They can have their favorite toons with them and yours sounds like it would be perfect for your grandson at this time.

I suppose she is not a quilter? It was a very unkind thing to say.
I think you are making him a great quilt and you really thought about that panel. He will love it and that's why you are making it.

I get what you are saying about pieced versus panel quilts, and I think you are correct in that I have a feeling the Mother wants a pieced quilt to be an heirloom for her son. However, I wouldn't be quick to spend the time, money, and energy it takes to a pieced quilt for a small child. That's just me though. Kids are tough on quilts and with all the washing that a quilt loved by a child will need, I'd hate to see all that wear and tear on a quilt that Grandma spent hours and hours on. My daughter has spilled juice, snacks, and even been sick on her quilt...I'm awful glad that it's just a bow tie quilt that I pieced together one evening from scraps!

I think the real hurt from comments like this from a family member is that when you are on the recieving end, in my humble opinion, you might want to accept a little more graciously when a gift has taken so much time and energy to create. Daughter probably didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings here, but I can completey relate as I have a relative that I have made several quilts and about a half dozen wallhangings/runners for who still isn't pleased. After a while you kind of want to just say, "Hey, I'm the one making all this stuff, and you get what you get!" Complaints and critisisms can take the fun out of giving! ;)

Kids love panels with their favorite stuff on it. Just because mom doesn't care for tomater doesn't mean he doesn't. She was maybe thinking home decor/heirloom? You made it for a child not an adult. It is his quilt not hers!

Pay no attention to her comment. He will love it.

You will forget all about the hurt feelings when you se how much the little guy loves that quilt... and he will love it! Sorry she made you feel that way!
And putting the map on the back is brilliant and such a wonderful, thoughtful idea. I wish my mom had been a quilter and had made my kids quilts... I never would have complained. Don't worry cherrio, you did a great job!

I think you should be proud of it no matter what his mother says, its only his opinion that counts and the thought behind the world on the back is awesome! Would love to see a pic of it.

Thank you everyone for the supportive answers. This is maybe a stressed reaction to the baby due in feb and hubby deploying in may. That's what I'm going with.and I can't wait to give it to lil man

I have made quilts for my grandchildren using the cars material by quilting around the cars. I also made quilts using Buzz and Woody material. I used the material for the backing. I appliqued pictures of Buzz and Woody from their T-shirts that were too small for them onto squares for the top. Trust me your grandson will love his "Tomater" quilt no matter what his mom says.

I think that his mother was rude to say what she did

I made a queen size quilt with appliqued hearts on it, 80 to be exact and all in different fabrics that took me hours. When I went to visit I was horrified to see bright blue marker all scribbled on the white background fabric so I am all for panels until the child is old enough to appreciate and take care of the quilt grandma spent hours piecing.

I always love panels for kids quilts. My little ones like their panel and large block quilts best of all.

Maybe she was having a stressful day. It must be awful for both her and you with him being deployed. If you had a good relationship with her before, that could be a big part of it.It's bound to be hard for her to be mom and dad during the day and not let your grandson know how worried she is. I know you're just as worried too.It might not be the reason, but I know I know I was a case of stress when my daughter was in the Marines and she was never deployed.Seeing the globe on the back side may have brought it out when she was trying to hide it.

I made my Dad and Stepmom a beautiful quilt for Christmas. I took some fabric that had 6" squares of birds in a repeating pattern (Christmasy birds like cardinals) very ornate looking fabric with metallic gold swirlies and all. Anyway I backed it with a green Christmas stripe fabric, I FMQ'd each and every box of birds and it looked just like I had set each one when I was done. They probably had no idea. I loved it, if I had more fabric I would have made one for myself.

Panels are awesome. I use them alot when I'm not in the mood for messing with stuff.

He will love it....

Shame on this mom. It is a "real" quilt and carries with it the love and attention you put in all of you quilts. The one receiving this quilt will cherish it and that is all that counts. Sorry you had to have this unnecessary pain.

LOVE a good panel! Have a whole crate of them. They make very nice quilts, wall hangings, quillows, etc. Great for quick projects.

Y

Am making one for my great nephew that will feature a panel of catching a fish - because he loves to fish. I know he will love it.

Your grandson will love the 'ToMater' quilt, guaranteed!

Sorry for her reaction. Panels are great. I like them
because you get characters that look like they should, or scenery, etc, that I, for one would not otherwise have.

I'm sure your grandson loves that quilt! I have been quilting several years now and I had made a small quilt for my mom. It wasn't anything spectacular as I hadn't been quilting all that long at the time. But I gave it to her and she said she really liked it. I told her about some other quilt projects I was hoping to work on, etc. and she made a comment something about,"well how many quilts does anyone really need?" She went on about the expense of the material and finding places to store them, etc. While I know that she didn't mean anything by her comments, it sort of made me feel bad that I would spend my time and money on something that seemed rather insignificant to some people. That comment has always stayed with me. I guess I just assumed that EVERYONE loves quilts! . Thanks for letting me vent...

just do what is in your heart and dont worry about it lol

Sometimes we say the absolute wrong thing to wonderful people. I hope she didn't mean anything negative by it.

I love your description of the blanket (especially the world). It's a very thoughtful gift!

Don't let what was said bother you, later after he suggles, and enjoys the theme, and she has to wash it over and over, may get it. (or not) Important part is that you got what he would like. She may appreciate it more later when he crawls up into her lap and the Quilt has to come too :) so they can both suggle under something made with loving care for there confort. :)

Show her a whole-cloth quilt! A quilt is a layer of batting between two pieces (whole or in parts) of fabric. Did you do a lot of stitiching on the panel? Maybe she's confused about what constitutes a quilt. I have seen many pretty panels, in quilts and on bolts.

That is sad ,used a cute construction vehicle panel for my grandson and he and my daughter were truly grateful.

Let them know that I am 57 years old and the favorite quilt that I made and kept for myself is my Tomater quilt. I love it and take it everywhere with me. I totally believe that it my REAL quilt. Like yours, made with a whole bunch of love and made just for him!

I THINK THERE ARE SO MANY CUTE PANELS FOR QUILTS THAT I KNOW THE KIDS LOVE. MOM SHOULD BE PLEASED THAT YOU TOOK THE TIME TO THINK OF HIS FEELINGS AND LIKES. NOT HERS!